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Six passengers injured and hundreds evacuated from pleasure cruiser after it crashes into barge on River Thames

Six people were injured as a pleasure cruiser dramatically collided with a barge on the Thames today.

Witnesses described an "incredible thud" as the two boats collided "head on" near the Oxo Tower between Waterloo and Blackfriars bridges just after 2pm.

Passengers on the City Cruises Millennium Time vessel were transferred to another ship after the crash, which left the cruiser's bow badly damaged.

Roly Elliott, 32, who saw the crash, said: "I was lunching at the Oxo Tower and could just see this big barge straying diagonally towards the front of the ship.

"The barge tried to cut to the right around the front but didn't judge it and the front of the ferry smashed head on with the barge."

He added: "There was a huge, huge thud. It was literally a front on collision."

A spokesman for the Met said: "The Metropolitan Police's Marine Support Unit, Coastguard, London Fire Brigade and London Ambulance Service are all in attendance and are currently in the process of taking those on board the ships to shore.

A London Ambulance Service spokesman said six people received treatment for "minor injuries".

The cause of the collision is not yet known.

A City Cruises statement said: "Today at 14:25 the Millennium Time - part of City Cruises sightseeing fleet - made contact with a commercial vessel while sailing by Coin Street on the River Thames. Minor injuries have been reported and are being treated by paramedics who were called immediately to the scene, none of whom were hospitalised.

"All other passengers were guided off the boat promptly by City Cruises, who continue to do everything they can to support the authorities and those involved in the incident. Investigations are on-going and more information will follow pending its conclusion. The Millennium Time will return to Cherry Garden Pier for repair and all other City Cruises services are running as usual."

Several people were injured in a separate incident involving one of the firm's cruisers when it collided with Tower Bridge last month.